Mamata Banerjee's loyalists gain separate room in West Bengal Assembly

Mamata Banerjee's loyalists in the West Bengal governor Assembly have secured a separate room and dedicated speaking time, marking a significant development amid ongoing tensions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The decision was announced on Thursday after a meeting between Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and senior members of the Mamata faction.

This move comes nearly two weeks after 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs reportedly defied the party's leadership by backing expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition. This decision went against the party's official nominee, senior MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. The internal rift has highlighted growing divisions within the TMC, with Mamata Banerjee's loyalists seeking greater autonomy and recognition within the party.

Chattopadhyay, along with former TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, described their meeting with Adhikari as "positive." Speaking to reporters, Chattopadhyay said, "We raised some specific issues before the chief minister. He showed us due respect. There was a detailed discussion on our seating arrangements, a separate room, and security-related matters."

During the meeting, Adhikari reportedly contacted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shankar Ghosh and instructed him to immediately arrange a separate room for the legislators allied with Mamata Banerjee. This move is seen as an effort to address the concerns of the faction and ensure smoother legislative functioning.

The development underscores the ongoing power struggle within the TMC, a party that has dominated West Bengal politics under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. While the move to allocate a separate room may ease some immediate tensions, it also highlights the challenges facing the party as it seeks to maintain unity ahead of upcoming political battles in the state.